Gambling Men by Amy Lane

Quent Jackson has followed Jason Spade's every move in business and in poker since their first day as college freshmen. Eight years later, when Jace finally decides Quint is the one man he can't live without, he sees no reason for that to change.

But as much as Jace believes that poker is life, no one gave Quent the same playbook. After their first passionate night, the real game of love and trust begins, and Jace has been playing alone too long to make teaching the rules easy. Jace only speaks two languages: one of them is sex, and the other one is poker. Between the two, he needs to find a way to convince himself to take a chance on love—and Quent to take a chance on him. It's a lucky thing they’re good at reading the odds, because they’re playing for keeps, and this is one high-stakes relationship that's definitely worth the gamble.



5/5 stars

Amy Lane you have done it again. Another great book about men you actually care to know and really really want them to make it as a couple. The guys were just perfect for each other, although neither one alone is a perfect man...far from it. Jason's life revolves around poker and just about every talk he has with Quent somehow ends up being about poker on the surface, but you get the undertones of what he is trying to say. And Quentin is just so, I don't want to say adorable but that's exactly what he is when it comes to dealing with his feelings for Jason. I loved reading about these two guys and pretty much read it in one sitting cause I just had to know how their story would end. Then I found myself feeling a little sad because our journey together was over. I wouldn't mind seeing these guys pop up again somewhere. So I definitely recommend reading this or any other work by Ms. Lane as you won't be disappointed.

Tattooed by Pamela Callow

She is obsessed with tattoos.

He is obsessed with her.

When a body is found on the outskirts of Halifax, rumors run wild about the victim's identity. But tattoo artist Kenzie Sloane knows exactly who she is. They share a tattoo... and a decade-old secret.
Lawyer Kate Lange remembers Kenzie Sloane. The former wild child was part of the same crowd that attracted her little sister, Imogen, before her death. Now Kenzie needs her help. And Kate needs answers.

But there are others who know about the tattoo and its history. And one of them is watching Kenzie's every move, waiting for the perfect moment to fulfill a dark promise that had been inked in her skin.


3.75/5 stars

You know, I have the absolute worse habit of reading books of a series out of order and once again I did it, I read this book which is the third in the series. I probably would've rated it higher had I actually read the first two books. I wasn't lost in the story., but I definitely lost some of the angst that Kate is feeling regarding the relationships she has with just about everybody in her life. This story picked up after she had been attacked twice before by people involved in other cases. Her childhood and the death of her sister play a big part in this case because she is representing the mother of her sister's friend. The friend Kate believes ruined her sister's life. I felt for Kate, I really did, it must be hard to carry that much anger around for almost twenty years. The character that really grabbed a hold of my attention and wouldn't let go was Kenzie. I had no clue how to feel about her....was she guilty, innocent, willing or forced? Was she a good girl that made a mistake or a bad girl who got away with it? All the way to the end I had one thought in mind- I have got to read the first two books in this series.

Complete Faith by Sue Brown

For Tommy Bradley, a hand working on the Lost Cow Ranch in rural Texas, admitting his sexuality is impossible, even if his bosses, Luke and Simon, are gay—Tommy has spent his entire life hiding the truth from his homophobic parents. Then Tommy meets pastor Noah Taylor in Luke’s father’s hospital room, and his difficult secret becomes that much harder to keep.

Noah is unlike any man of God—or any man—Tommy’s ever met. For one thing, his congregation is made up primarily of GLBT individuals and their families. For another, he isn’t afraid of the attraction he feels toward Tommy, and he makes his intentions very clear. But Noah won’t hide his sexuality or his love from the world, and he won’t start a relationship with Tommy while Tommy hides his, either. Faced with the choice of losing Noah or coming out to his parents, Tommy takes his first steps out of the closet.

But Tommy isn’t the only one facing challenges. Thanks to an outpouring of hatred from Pastor Jackson and a group of ranch owners, Noah must cope with the possible loss of his church and his livelihood.

4/5 stars

I'm glad we finally got to read Tommy and Noah's story and even better they got HEA. This was a great follow-up to Morning Report and I was really impresses that even though this story revolved around Tommy and Noah's relationship we still got a peek at how the rest of the Lost Cow ranch were doing. I really liked Tommy and his often shy ways that he had of expressing his feelings and thought that Noah was a really good match for him. Noah on the other hand kinda threw me for a couple reasons. First being his language...I didn't know preachers had such dirty mouths. Second was the weird moment they shared with Luke and Simon in the office. It just felt unnecessary to the story since nothing happened and wasn't really brought up again. I love every book by Sue Brown that I've read and this was no exception. I think this is a definite read, just be sure to read Morning Report first, you won't be disappointed.

Play It Again, Charlie by R. Cooper

After an accident left him broken in body and spirit, Charlie Howard retired from the police force to teach at a community college. Life has taught him that he’s unlikely to get what he wants, so he’s stopped asking. Instead, he hides from the world in the apartment complex he manages. After all, no one can leave him if he doesn’t let anyone in.

Will, a sexy, classic-film-loving twink, moves into the apartment across from him and—to Charlie’s surprise—makes it clear that he’d like nothing more than to hole up with Charlie and get kinky. Will has no problem expressing what he wants in bed or out of it, but he’s never dated anyone long-term, and Charlie isn’t sure Will’s ready for anything serious.

Charlie is a serious kind of guy. He wants Will and everything a relationship could mean, even if he doesn’t have any experience in that scene—even if that makes him vulnerable. As they grow closer, Charlie realizes that it’s time to start asking for what he wants, and if he wants to be happy, he’ll have to risk everything and ask Will to stay.

3.75/5 stars

This book was a little hard to get into, but once I did I found I liked it a lot. Some of the dialogue was hard to understand considering Will quotes old movies constantly and jumps around to different topics and it seemed like it took awhile to actually have anything happen between Will and Charlie and when things did start to get rolling between them it was full of misunderstandings and miscommunications. I wasn't to fond of the daddy issues, but I guess it fit with Will's character, even though I didn't really see Charlie as a "daddy" kind of guy. To me a "Daddy" is very alpha, communicates what he wants/needs, and just generally has the upper-hand in the relationship which is the opposite of how I saw Charlie. Will came across as a very young and at times naive guy who sees in Charlie a man he can have a real relationship with for the first time. Somehow the two guys fit together very nicely and I was happy to see them get their HEA. This being the first book I've read by R. Cooper I wasn't sure what to expect, but now I'm excited to read another one and hope others will give them a chance.

One Small Thing by M. J. O'Shea & Piper Vaughn

“Daddy” is not a title Rue Murray wanted, but he never thought he’d have sex with a woman either. Now he’s the unwitting father of a newborn named Alice. Between bartending and cosmetology school, Rue doesn’t have time for babies, but he can’t give her up. What Rue needs is a babysitter, and he’s running out of options. He’s on the verge of quitting school to watch Alice himself when he remembers his reclusive new neighbor, Erik.

Erik Van Nuys is a sci-fi novelist with anxiety issues to spare. He doesn’t like people in general, and he likes babies even less. Still, with his royalties dwindling, he could use the extra cash. Reluctantly, he takes on the role of manny—and even more reluctantly, he finds himself falling for Alice and her flamboyant father.

Rue and Erik are as different as two people can be, and Alice is the unlikeliest of babies, but Rue has never been happier than when Alice and Erik are by his side. At least, not until he receives an offer that puts all his dreams within reach and he’s forced to choose: the future he’s always wanted, or the family he thought he never did.

4/5 stars

I love when two MCs who seem to have absolutely nothing in common end up making the best of connections. And that is exactly what this book was, an out and proud gay man (Rue) and a geeky man with OCD (Erik) who end up bonding over Rue's infant daughter. Add in a lovable best friend, Dusty, and this book really just worked on almost every level. The change that comes over each man during the months of getting to know each other was very believable and was forced in any way. Rue's life becomes focusing on raising his daughter while still trying to bring his dreams to reality. Erik learns that life gets a little messy and unpredictable when you least expect it. I thought they were a perfect fit for each other and hopefully Dusty will get his own HEA soon. I can't wait to read more from these two authors.

Who We Are by TJ Klune

Sequel to Bear, Otter, and the Kid

Bear, Otter, and the Kid survived last summer with their hearts and souls intact. They’ve moved into the Green Monstrosity, and Bear is finally able to admit his love for the man who saved him from himself.

But that's not the end of their story. How could it be?

The boys find that life doesn’t stop just because they got their happily ever after. There’s still the custody battle for the Kid. The return of Otter’s parents. A first trip to a gay bar. The Kid goes to therapy, and Mrs. Paquinn decides that Bigfoot is real. Anna and Creed do… well, whatever it is Anna and Creed do. There are newfound jealousies, the return of old enemies, bad poetry, and misanthropic seagulls. And through it all, Bear struggles to understand his mother’s abandonment of him and his brother, only to delve deeper into their shared past. What he finds there will alter their lives forever and help him realize what it'll take to become who they're supposed to be.

Family is not always defined by blood. It’s defined by those who make us whole—those who make us who we are.

5/5 stars

Loved it! I was so excited when I saw this book, because Bear, Otter and the Kid is one of my favorites. This book did not disappoint in any way and was a great sequel even though the last half was so heartbreaking. I loved the fact that it picks up just a few months after BOatK took place and we got to see them settling into a life as a family in the Green Monstrosity. Bear was just as lovable as before with a few new issues to drive him crazy. And the Kid...what can be said about the Kid except that once again he dug a little deeper into my heart. Oh yeah, that little glimpse of the future we got at the end? Wonderful! I can't wait for a book about a grown-up Kid. Be advised to have a box of tissues handy for this book- you'll need them. I've lost count of how many people I've told about this series. Hopefully they'll all pick it up and share in the joy of these guys and their new life together.

Temptation & Twilight (Brethren Guardians#3) by Charlotte Featherstone

Iain Sinclair, Marquis of Alynwick, is certain there is a special hell for him. An unrepentant rake, he holds nothing sacred-except for beautiful Elizabeth York. For years, Alynwick has tried to forget the woman he loved so well, and treated so badly. A woman who could hold nothing in her heart for him but hatred.

All of society believes Elizabeth, the blind daughter of a duke, to be a proper young lady. But no one knows of her wanton affair with Alynwick. When Lizzy learns of her ancestor's ancient diary-filled with exotic tales-she longs to uncover the identity of the unnamed lover within and hesitantly agrees to allow Alynwick, who claims to have knowledge of the "veiled lady," to help her solve the mystery.

Eager to be Lizzy's eyes, Alynwick brings the seductive text to life, and each night it takes greater effort for her to forget his betrayal. With each whispered word, her resolve gives way, without her knowing that a centuries-old secret will lead them to a present-day danger

3.75/5 stars

So, I started reading this book and had to stop a couple chapters in because I hadn't read the first two books of this series. So I downloaded the first two books read them in a couple days then came back to this one. I have mixed feelings about this book. First the book opens with Iain getting dressed after a "meeting" with a married woman. While this affair is going on he's pining after Elizabeth, the blind sister of his friend Sussex. This book also takes place at the same time as the second book so there are quite a few scenes that are repeated with only a few differences. We already know who the villain is so this book just kinda cleaned up the story into a nice finished series. Although we do meet someone who could possibly get his own book, who knows? I did like the fact the the blindness doesn't really hold Elizabeth back, she knows what she wants and she goes after it. All in all, I liked this series and all the characters involved and would recommend it.

Armed & Dangerous (Cut & Run #5) by Abigail Roux

Left alone in Baltimore after his unpredictable lover bails, Special Agent Zane Garrett takes his frustration out on everything in his path until he is ordered to Chicago to back up an undercover operative. When he gets there, though, he finds himself face to face with his wayward partner, Special Agent Ty Grady. They have to deal with the uncertainty lingering between them while they work to retrieve their intended mark, a retired hit man and CIA wet-works operative named Julian Cross.

Ty, once a marine and now an FBI hotshot, has a penchant for being unpredictable, a trait Zane can vouch for. Zane is a man who once lived for his job but has come to realize his heartbreaking past doesn’t have to overshadow his future. They're partners, friends, lovers, and the go-to team for unusual cases. With Cross and his innocuous boyfriend, Cameron Jacobs, in tow, Ty and Zane must navigate the obstacles of a cross-country trek, including TSA pat-downs, blizzards, their uncooperative prisoners, CIA kill teams, a desperate lack of sleep or caffeine, and each other. Ty and Zane are determined to get Julian Cross to DC in one piece, but it’s starting to look like it might be the last thing they do.

5/5 stars

I love this series and I absolutely adore Ty and Zane. They are both so flawed but so perfect for each other. This was definitely the most emotional out of all the books in the series and that made it all the more wonderful. Add in the fact that my second favorite couple, Julian Cross and Cameron from Warrior's Cross, from these authors was also in this book was just an added bonus. These books are always full of action and this one didn't disappoint at all. I loved the interactions between Ty and Julian- it was just pure entertainment. I think everyone should read this series no matter what genre it is classified as because there is something for everyone in them, great dialogue, lots of action, a little romance and great characters.

First Impressions by Christopher Koehler

The first time Henry Hughes and Cameron Jameson meet, it's an unmitigated disaster. Cameron reminds Henry of all he left behind when he stopped making adult films, and he cruelly rejects Cameron. When Cameron discovers Henry's porno-thespian past, he assumes he's dodged a bullet.

But circumstances continue to throw the two together. Though the physical attraction between them grows, they cling to first impressions, even as a slow dance reveals just how good they could be.

Henry finally realizes how wrong he was, but Cameron can't cope with "sleeping with the enemy". It will take a confrontation for Cameron to realize just how wrong he's been, but unfortunately, he may have lost his chance.


3/5 stars

I was sure that I was going to really like this book since I really liked the Cal Pac series that the author wrote, but that wasn't the case. It was good don't get me wrong, but it just wasn't what I was expecting. I liked Cameron well enough, he seemed like he was trying to get it together. Henry was at first a real jerk until we got to know him. All though why we had to read about him being a former porn star every time it mentioned him was beyond me. I mean I get it all ready he hates his former occupation, but he talks about it all the time. The roommates were the two characters that annoyed me the most. I hated the way they spoke to each other, the constant digs just drove me nuts. I would've liked to have read more interaction between Cameron and Henry. It seemed as if their love was kinda fast considering they only saw each other a couple of times and spent only one night together.